Most homeowners say the same thing a few years after their yard is installed:
“It looked great at first… but now it’s a lot of work.”
Garden beds become overrun with weeds. Shrubs grow far larger than expected. Lawn edges creep into planting areas. Before long, weekend mornings start disappearing into hours of trimming, pruning, and constant upkeep. A thoughtfully planned low-maintenance landscape design can solve many of those frustrations. Not by eliminating yard work completely, but by making smarter decisions from the very beginning.
At Pierson Garden and Landscape, we specialize in landscape design in Minnesota that looks beautiful the day it’s installed, and continues to function well for years to come. The goal isn’t just curb appeal during the first season. It’s creating a landscape that still feels manageable five, ten, or even twenty years down the road.
That means selecting plants suited to Minnesota’s climate, carefully planning patios and planting beds, and designing outdoor spaces that work with the environment rather than constantly fighting it.
What Low-Maintenance Landscaping Really Means
Low maintenance doesn’t mean a yard filled with gravel and a few lonely shrubs. Instead, it means creating a landscape that holds its shape and beauty without constant reworking.
When designing a low-maintenance landscape, our team looks closely at factors like sun exposure, soil conditions, water flow, and how homeowners actually use their outdoor spaces. From there, we design a layout that supports long-term growth and minimizes ongoing maintenance.
Some common strategies include:
Installing larger planting beds rather than narrow strips of lawn
Selecting hardy shrubs that keep their shape with minimal pruning
Using perennials suited to Minnesota’s climate and soil
Adding mulched planting beds to help suppress weeds
Incorporating patios and other hardscape areas to reduce mowing areas
The result is a landscape that still offers seasonal color, texture, and structure—but without requiring constant upkeep.
How Our Landscape Design Process Works
Many homeowners begin by searching for landscape design services or asking neighbors who created the backyard they admire. When they contact Pierson Garden and Landscape, the process always begins with understanding the property itself.
The Initial Consultation
Every project starts with a walk through the property.
One of our designers visits your home to see how the yard currently functions. During this visit, we pay close attention to details such as:
Sunlight patterns throughout the day
Slopes or elevation changes
Existing trees and mature plants
Water flow and potential yard drainage concerns
We also talk with homeowners about how they want to use their space. Some people want room for entertaining. Others prioritize privacy, shade, or reducing time spent maintaining the yard.
Understanding these goals helps shape the entire landscape design plan.
Landscape Design Planning
Once we understand the property and the homeowner’s goals, the design process begins.
Back at our studio, our team develops a landscape plan that balances horticulture, landscape architecture, and practical design. Each element is placed intentionally so the yard functions as a cohesive whole.
A typical landscape design might include:
A patio near the back entrance for dining and gathering
Planting beds that soften the edges of the home
Shade trees positioned to provide cooling over time
Walkways connecting the front and backyard areas
Shrubs and perennials that create structure and seasonal color
Because we specialize in landscape design in Minnesota, plant selection always considers winter hardiness. If a plant struggles to survive Minnesota’s climate, we simply don’t recommend it.
This ensures the landscape continues to thrive long after installation.
Using Hardscapes to Reduce Maintenance
One of the most effective ways to reduce yard work is to replace high-maintenance lawn areas with thoughtfully designed hardscape features.
Patios, walkways, and seating areas not only expand your usable outdoor space—they also reduce the amount of turf that needs mowing, watering, and fertilizing.
Many Pierson projects include:
Paver patios for outdoor dining and entertaining
Walkways that connect different areas of the property
Retaining walls that manage slopes and help with erosion control
Fire pit areas or seating walls for outdoor gathering
Hardscape also adds structure to the landscape. When they’re incorporated thoughtfully into the design, the entire yard feels organized and intentional rather than something that developed piece by piece over time.
Why Homeowners Choose Pierson Garden and Landscape
Homeowners across Minnesota trust Pierson Garden and Landscape because we approach landscaping as a complete system—not just individual projects.
Our team handles both landscape design and installation, ensuring the ideas created during the planning stage are carried through to construction. Patios, planting beds, trees, and outdoor living areas all come together as one cohesive design.
This approach prevents the “patchwork landscape” that often happens when yards are built one project at a time over many years.
With extensive experience in Minnesota landscaping, our team understands the region’s soils, drainage challenges, seasonal weather patterns, and plant performance. That knowledge allows us to create outdoor spaces that remain beautiful, functional, and manageable for years to come.
Start Planning a Landscape That Works for You
If your yard feels like it’s becoming more work than it should be, it may be time to rethink the design.
A well-planned landscape can significantly reduce maintenance while still providing a beautiful outdoor space for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying Minnesota’s seasons.
The team at Pierson Garden and Landscape can help you design a landscape that fits your property, your lifestyle, and the realities of Minnesota’s climate.
Schedule a consultation with one of our designers and start building a yard that looks great and requires far less maintenance.